..Thus, in MG(+) thymoma patients, thymectomy apparently also results in removal of a regulatory T cell pool and may explain the frequent temporary postoperative deterioration of MG in these patients...

..Our data indicate that this class of CD28-specific monoclonal antibodies targets CD4+CD25+ T reg cells and provides a novel means for the effective treatment of multiple sclerosis and other autoimmune diseases...

Downregulation of transforming growth factor-beta2 facilitates inflammation in the central nervous system by reciprocal astrocyte/microglia interactions

..In addition, strong differences between thymocytes and splenocytes were detected. Altered IL-17 production by thymocytes upon contact with foreign pathogens might be a key regulator in the education of adaptive immunity...

Tolerance induction by intrathymic expression of P0

Lucian VisanDepartment of Neurology, Clinical Research Group for Multiple Sclerosis and Neuroimmunology, University of Wurzburg, Wurzburg, GermanyJ Immunol 172:1364-70. 2004

The PLPp-specific T-cell population promoted by pertussis toxin is characterized by high frequencies of IL-17-producing cells

Harald H HofstetterClinical Research Group for Multiple Sclerosis, Department of Neurology, University of Wurzburg, Wurzburg, GermanyCytokine 40:35-43. 2007

..Our study indicates a new mechanism by which microbial agents can initiate or maintain autoimmune reactions and supports the growing role in particular for Th-17 cells in organ-specific autoimmune diseases like multiple sclerosis or EAE...

Effects of polyclonal immunoglobulins and other immunomodulatory agents on microglial phagocytosis of apoptotic inflammatory T-cells

..These results indicate that IVIg has a high potential to inhibit microglial phagocytosis of apoptotic inflammatory T-cells even under proinflammatory conditions and extend our view of the complex immunomodulatory effects of IVIg...

..The wealth of immunological reagents available to study and manipulate the OVA-specific response should make this new model useful for the investigation of components and mechanisms involved in CNS-specific autoimmunity...

..Some mechanisms of primary or secondary axonal damage may be shared between inflammatory and degenerative diseases of the nervous system, thereby establishing a link which might be of importance for future therapeutic strategies...

..In conclusion, SPIO-enhanced MRI provides a novel in vivo tool to assess the timing of macrophage entry into target tissues during an immunopathologic attack and holds promise to monitor immunotherapeutic interventions...

..This indicates that IVIg may have different tissue-specific effects. Besides neutralization of TNF-alpha-mediated cell death, IVIg may also interfere with the network of local immune cells, thus modulating survival of glial cells...

..In conclusion, using advanced diagnostic methodology, including functional, morphometric, and biochemical measurements no cardiotoxic effect of mitoxantrone up to a cumulative dose range of 100 mg/m2 could be detected...

..The goal of this study was to analyze safety and assess the efficacy of standard plasma exchange (PE) compared with immunoadsorption (IA) alone, or an alternating combination of both in deteriorating myasthenia gravis (MG)...

The blood-brain barrier as target of multiple sclerosis research and therapy. Report of an international scientific meeting, Würzburg, January 23/24, 2004

Ralf GoldClinical Research Group for Multiple Sclerosis and Neuroimmunology, Department of Neurology, University of Wurzburg, GermanyJ Neuroimmunol 152:1-4. 2004

Association of a null mutation in the CNTF gene with early onset of multiple sclerosis

..These data reveal that endogenous LIF is an immunologically active molecule in neuroinflammation. This establishes a link between LIF and the immune system which was not observed in the ciliary neurotrophic factor knockout mouse...

..In contrast, absence of IFNAR on myeloid cells led to severe disease with an enhanced effector phase and increased lethality, indicating a distinct protective function of type I IFNs during autoimmune inflammation of the CNS...

..However, approximately 75% MuSK- samples showed lymph node-type infiltrates similar to those in AChR+ patients, but with fewer germinal centers. These variations may explain some apparent differences in responses to thymectomy in SNMG...

..These mechanisms may reduce further recruitment of pathogenic inflammatory cells into the CNS-lesion and thus contribute to the active resolution of the inflammatory infiltrate and termination of the autoimmune attack...

Re-expression of a developmentally restricted potassium channel in autoimmune demyelination: Kv1.4 is implicated in oligodendroglial proliferation

..Therefore, mBDNF mRNA is differentially regulated in the CNS and the immune system opening the possibility of specific manipulation of mBDNF expression in immune cells without globally affecting mBDNF in the CNS...

Current issues in immunomodulatory treatment of multiple sclerosis--a practical approach

..In the Natalizumab Safety and Efficacy in Relapsing-Remitting Multiple Sclerosis (AFFIRM) trial, infusion-related hypersensitivity reactions developed in 4% of patients, usually within 2 hours after starting the infusion...